Locking mechanism



Filed Jan.13,` 1927 2 sheets-sheet Oct. 11, 19.27. w. P' KING LocKING MECHANISM 2 sheets-sheet 2 Filed Jan. 13, 192'? Patented Get. ll, T92?.

WLLA-lv KING, OF SYB/ACUSE, NEW YORK.

LOCKNG IVIECHANISM.

[application filed January 13, 1927. Serial No. 160,920.

This invention relates to means for locking covers, doors, and the like, and has especial reference to a. power controlled locking` device, designed particularly 'tor use in connection with laundry eXtractors and other power operated machines.

The primary object-s ot the invention is to provide a safety device tor extractors and other machines, which is controllerL in part by the power that operates the extractora, and wiich positively and automatically holds the cover oitl the extractor in the clo'led position, and prevents access to thn interior ot the machine, as long as the power is "on.

' l urther object is to provide a locking device, which may be positively connected with the cover. and so arranged that when the power is shut-oilq and the cover is moved to the open position, the said device, with the cooperation ot the cover, )revente the power from beine' turned on again, until the cover is closed. LA urt ier objectis to provide a cover control' mechanitm, one member ot which is driven directly by the power that operates the extractor or other machine, the other member being operated by the movements ot the cover, the arrangement ot laid members being such that, when the cover is closed and the extracting mechanism is being operated, the said members are disconnected, and any attempt to open the cover causes the driven member to resist said opening movement and prevent k access to the interior of the extractor, until the power is shut oit. A further object is to provide means tor adjusting `one ot said members. And a further object 1s to provide simple means tor simultaneously operating the extractor and the locking mechanism by the same power, and by the use ot a common control.

The various `features and part-s oit the invention will be understoodv trom the detailed description which follows, and by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a top plan view ot a laundry extractor, to which my locking mechanism is applied. the cover ot the extractor being closed. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same: the full lines showing the cover held in the closed position by the looking mechanism, the dotted lines showing the cover in the open position,y and the locking mechanism tilted at an angle that prevents turning on the power and starting the extract-or until the cover is closed, Fig. 3 is an enlarged top plan view ot the locking mechanism, in the act ot holding the cover in the closed position. Fig. l is a side elevation of the same, parts of the device being broken away for showing the locking position ot the rack relatively to the pinion when the cover 'is closed, also showing means for adjusting the rack. Figp is an enlarged horizontal section, taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 4; showing the spring that enables the pinion to be partially rotated on the sleeve by the opening 'ofthe cover, tollowing the shutting-down ot the power.

And Fig. 6 is a vertical cross-section taken on line 6 6 of Fig. 3.

In the drawings, (Figs. l and 2), is shown conventionally a laundry extractor, which has been selected mainly for the purpose ot 'mannen bya shaft 3, which is fitted with a pulley 33. The tub 2 is mountedupon a base 2, and has a normally open top, the

opening` being surrounded by an annular part 2,vand is usually closed by a cover, as 4l, the said cover in the present rshowing being formed ot woven wire, and being hinged by a member 4', between lugs 2b,

which are rigidly secured to the annular portion 2a. The dotted lines in Fig. 2 show the open position oit the cover. The power for driving the basket 3 may be derived :trom any suitable source, andinay be transmitted by a belt 5, which operates a driving pulley 5, from which the belt may be shitted, by any means (not shown), to anidle pulley 5, for stopping the basket 3. The pulleys 5 5 are mounted upon a shatt 5, which passes horizontally through an upright cylindrical body 6, ingwhich are disposed a pair of imiter-gears 6 6a (see Fig.

l) that are supported respectively by shaft 5b, and an uprightshatt 7 upon whose lower end is mounted a pulley 7', that drives the Y lpulley 3a, by means of a belt 7a. The shaft 5b preferably extends through the body 6, and upon its tai-ther end is mounted a pulley 5". The pulleys 5 and 5 are both rigid on shaft 5b', so that both are positively driven while the basket is being operated, and when the belt 5 shifted to the pulley all driving motion of the parts, except Vpulley 5a ceases, and the operator may readily and safely lift the cover V(see dotted position Fig. 2),. remove the dry clothes, and refill the basket, without incurring any danger. rlhe foregoing describes in a lgeneral Sway, the construction and arrangement of several well-known laundryextractora, all of which, yas a rule, are equipped with hinged or reA movable covers, but so far as I am aware, but few of 'these machines have been provided with any means whereby the covers may be locked orothervise securely held in closed position while theV baskets are being operated. The laclt of any safeguards against the lifting or opening of the covers of the tubs while the power is on, has resulted in many accidents to careless or ignorant operators, and the authorities of some Vofthe States are demanding that all eX- tractors be equippedV wan some practical means for remedying the said defects anl obviating all said dangers in futiu'e. To this end, l have devised novel and simple means, whereby the cover as 4, cannot be opened as long as the power is orf7 and the basket 3 is in motion, and the said means furthermore automatically prevents the power being turned on for starting 4the basket, while the cover is in the opening position. A detailed description of my invention follows:

8 represents a counter-shaft, which may Vbe supported by any suitable hangers (not shown). Upon one end of said shaft is mounted apulley 8, which is shown driven by the pulley 5, and a belt 3a. 9 represents Va sleeve, which is preferably rigidly ymounted on the shaft 8 by a set-screw 9', thesaid sleeve being formed at one end with a head 9C. 10 represents one of the locking members comprising a pinionhaving at one end ahub 10', the said parts being bored out to operatively it the sleeve 9, and the hub be- Y ing provided with a circumferential slot 10a.

The Agear 10 is driven by the shaft 8 in the direction indicated by the circular arrows i in Figs. 4 and 6, by a screw-stud 9e, which is located and vplays in the slot 10a.. The gear 10 is rotatable onthe sleeve 9 in the reverse direction, to the extent of the length of the slot 10a, as willbe explained later on.

.The opposite end ofthe pinion 10 -is counterbored, as at 10b, and in .this cavity 'is disposed va stout spiral spring12, Vwhose ends are Vrespectively secured to the sleeve 9. and

the pinion 10, as indicated at 10C.l in Figs.

1 4, 5 and 6. By this arrangement, the spring 60. 12 tends to hold the pinion in the driving position, with the stud 9e'engaging the corresponding end. of theslot 10?L (see Fig. 5).

The vsleeve 9. and the "pinion Vl0 are `enclosed by 'a casing13,and a correspondingly shaped cap 13 the latter being held in place by the screws 13% The top of the casing' 13 is formed with a hollow horizontal guide portion 13c (see Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4), whose guide-way 13d is disposed in the path of or tangent to the uppermost teeth of the pinion 10. VThe normally open rear side of the guide 13 is closed by a corres'iondingly shaped portion 13o of the cap 13. The second locking-member consists of a relatively long bar 14, whose medial portion has its lower edge formed with teeth 14', that are arranged to engage the teeth of the pinion, when the bar is moved towards the right, according to the showing inFig. 4. One end 1'4a lof fthe bar extends beyond the teeth 10d-14' and is preferably reduced to the extent of the depth of the teeth (see Fig. 4). The opposite end 14b of the rack 14 is arranged to pivotally connect with a lug or arm 4a, which is preferably integral to the hinge member 4 of the cover. The end 14b of the rack is preferably split (see Figs. 2, 3 and 4) for providing a separate and movable part 14, which is directly connected to the lug 4a. rlhe reduced portions of the bar 14 and the part 14c are adjustably held in place by screws 14d, the said screws being applied fro-m the opposite edges and being arranged to play in slots 14e, which enable the part 14c to be moved towards and away from the arm 4, in a welLknown manner. The facing edges of the parts 14b and 14'3 are preferably corrugated (see Fig. 4), for preventing twisting or slippage of the parts.` Thearm 4"L preferably extends a considerable distance above the perforated lugs 2b of the tub, so that when the power is shut-down and the cover is raised, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2, the arm 4a freely moves the `rack-bar 14 towards the locking mechanism carried by the shaft 3, and rotates the pinion 10 onsleeve 9, against the tension o f sf} i.ri1i`g 12. This reverse 'rotation of the pinion is allowed by the slot 10'", as explained, )TV hen my locking mechanism is applied to an extractor Voro-ther machine, the part 14C is preferably -so adjusted that when the cover, 'as 4, is fully open, shown in Fig. 2, ythe arm 4a swings the rack bar 14 downwardly (see dotted lines in F .2) at suchen angle as'to'effectually prevent the rotationV of the pinion, by the poweigiuntil the cover has been lowered manuallyl to the closedposition. `By this 'construction anda angement, as long as the cover is in thevopen position, it is impossible 'for the operator to turn on the power for starting the eitractr, and'rot'ating the pinion 10, for the reason that the .rack 14 being in positive mesh with the pinion, must first be moved vtowards the extractor until Vits teeth are free from the teeth 10d, before thepinion be` rotated by the power, as showi'i in H 4. lnA case the Yoperator attempts 'to extractor while "the cover isopeh,

the resistance oiered by the rack and arm Llf3-as explained, will either stall the whole unit or else simply canse the belt 8P to slip on the pulleys 5c and 8. .Vhen the cover is closed, the spring l2 recoils and assists the arm la to move the raclr A endwise until the last of the teeth 14 clears the teeth lOd oit the pinion, as shown in Fig. fr. This clearance is preferably so calculated, when the rack bar is properly adjusted, as to position the last tooth of the rack about one thirty second ot an inch clear ot the teeth 10d. This finally disposes of all resistance and obstruction to the free rotation ot the pinion l0. while the basket 3 is being rotated another extracting period. ln case the operator or others attempts to raise the cover d, while the basket is in motion, the first slight endwise movement oit the rack 14e away 'from the extractor' brings the nearest tooth le into engigement with the pinion, and the latter owing to its rapid rotation and the frequency ot the teeth 10d instantly exerts the fiill torce ot the power for thrusting the rack in the opposite direction for restoring the cover to its fully closed position, shown in Figs. l, 2 and l. The pinion l0 is Usually operated at 600 to SOO R. l?, M., and this high speed when supple- '.'iented by the power, is siitlicient to resist the strength ot the operator, with the result that the cover remains tightly closed until the power is again shut down.

Having thus described my invention, what l claim, is-

l. In a locking mechanism for power dri *en laundry extractor and the like, the

combination with the cover ot the extractor, and a source ot power, ot a pinion adapted to be driven by said power, and a raclr bar connected to said cover adapted to be held tree 1from said pinion while the cover is closed, said rack adapted to engage the teeth of the pinion at the initial opening movement ot the cover, and said pinion adapted to prevent the opening ot the cover while the extractor and said pinion are being' driven by said power.

2. The combination with a driven mechanism having a. protecting cover or like part, a bar connected to said cover and controlling the opening thereof, a member driven by the power that drives said mechanism adapted to prevent the .movement of said bar in the direction for eifectingf opening' of the cover while the power is on, said cover and said bar adapted to drive said member in the opposite direction by the openingmovement of the cover and to prevent the operation of said member by the power as long as the cover remains open.

3. Means for locking the cover or a lanndry extractor' during the operation ot the ext-r -cting mechanism, including a source of power, a reciproeatable and rockable member connected to and operable by the opening` and closing movements of the cover, a second member rotatable by said power adapted to prevent the movement of the first member tor opening' the cover, means for shutting ofi the power and stopping the said mechanism, and means ior tilting the first member for preventing the starting ot the extractor to prevent the reciprocation or" said bar, and

said cover and said bar adapted to jointly prevent the operation ot the extractor and said member while the cover is in the open position.

5. The combination with a power driven mechanism protected by a hinge-d cover, ot means `tor holding said cover in the closed position while said mechanism is being operated comprising `a pinion adapted to be driven by vsaid power, and a movable tangentially towards said pinion, one end et said bar being pivoted to said cover, the opposite end portion ofthe bar having teeth dapted to mesh with the teeth of t ie pinion when the cover' is moved towards the open posit-ion, said pinion adapted when rotated by the power to prevent the meshing ot said teeth and the opening of the cover, and said bar adapted to be tilted by the opening movement of said cover for preventing' the power 'from operating the pinion until the cover is closed.

6. In a locking mechanism tor power driven laundry machines and the like, the combination with a hinged VVcover, the hinged member having an arm, of a rack bar connected to said arm, a pinion adapted to be driven in one direction by said power, a spring Jfor resiliently holding the pinion 'in theV driving position, a casing supporting said pinion, said casing having a guide-way to reeeve said rack bar adapted to guide said bar across the path of said pinion, said pinion adapted to prevent movement ot said raclr bar in the direction for opening said cover while said pinion is being rotated by the power, and said cover adapted to move. said rack bar into engagement with and to rotate said pinion in the opposite direction against the tension of said spring while the cover is being opened.

7. ylhe combina-tion with a laundry extractor having a hinged cover, and a source of power for operating said extractor, of a lOl) lim

locking member adapted to be driven by said power, a second member in consta-nt engagement with said cover and movable towards and away from the first member by t-he opening and closing of the cover when the power is shutoff, said tirst member when driven by said power being rotatable towardst-he second member and adapted to prevent the opening of said cover, and said cover adaptn ed when ully opened to dispose the second member at such an angle as to prevent the operation of the irst member by the power until the cover is closed.

8. rThe combination with a power driven machine Vand a manually operable part of said machine, of means for preventing the manual operation of said part including a rack connected to and movable towards and from the machine by the movements of said part, a pinion adapted to be driven by the power that actuates said machine, said pinion adapted to prevent movement or said rack while the power is on, said pinion adapted to yield :to-r enabling said part to be manually operated when the powerV is shutol, and said part adapted to cooperate with said rack for preventing the power from operating the machine and said pinion until said part is restored to its normal position.

9. In a lool; for the cover of a power operated extractona rack pivoted at one end to j the cover, a guide for supporting the 4opposite end of the rack, a pinion driven by the power that actuates the extractor, the teeth .of the pinion extending into the guide adapted when driven by the power to prevent said rack :from being moved endwise for enabling said cover to be opened, means for shutting otlj the power tor stopping the extractor' and said pinion, means for enabling said rack to rotate the pinion in the opposite direction by the opening movement or' the cover following the shutting oil ot the power, and means 'for preventing the power from starting the extractor while the cover remains open. i

l0. 'Ihe combination with a laundry eX- tractory having a hinged cover and a source of power for operating the extractor, ot' means for locking the cover in the closed position while the extractor is being driven by the power comprising a pinion adapted to e rotated by said power during the extracting intervals, means for shutting ott the power for stopping the extractor and said pinion, and a member interposed between the pinion and said cover adapted to be held out oi'' contact with the pinion by the cover when the latter is closed', said member adapted to be thrust towards the extractor by the pinion whenever the cover is moved towards the open position while said pinion is being driven by the power, said member adapted to engage and rotate said pinion in the opposite direction by the opening movement of the cover when the power is shut-oil'.y and said member being arranged to be tilted by said opening movement for preventing the starting of the extractor while the cover remains open.

In testimony whereof I atlix my sie-nature.

WILLIAM P. I ING. 

